Networking and Mentoring

Networking

• How to Network
• Networking Resources & Professional Organizations
• LinkedIn Tips/Information
• A Guide to Informational Interviews
  Learn about the purpose of an informational interview, and what to do before, during, and after the meeting
• Podcasts on Networking

Career Fairs: A Forum for Networking

For information on Stanford Career Fairs, use the links below or visit the Career Fair Strategies section of the Our Services page.

• Career Fairs Overview
• Preparing for a Career Fair
• What To Do During and After the Fair
• Career Fairs at Stanford

Key Mentoring/Networking Programs

• Stanford Alumni Mentoring (SAM)
  Connects students with alumni in ongoing one-on-one mentoring relationships for career planning and goal setting
• CareerConnect (formerly Stanford Career Network)
  Locate alumni, with backgrounds that interest you, for informational interviews and career networking
• Stanford Immersion in Medicine Series Program (SIMS)
  Offers a shadowing program for undergrads with physicians at Stanford Hospital, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, and the Palo Alto VA Hospital

How is mentoring different from networking?

Whereas networking is about developing professional contacts to tap for informational interviews and job leads, mentoring is about an alumnus/a and student developing a close-knit, long-term relationship covering all aspects of career development and life after Stanford. Although a networking interaction may provide a "mentoring moment"; there is no expectation of an on-going advising relationship.

What is networking?

Networking is making connections to gather and/or provide information. Many people are afraid to network because they see it as using people and/or are intimidated to talk to strangers. Networking is a two - way process. Even as a student you have something to offer; information, time, connections to others, access to campus and more.

• View our Networking video
  • gather information, generate job leads, and plant the seeds for future conversations
  • learn about career fields, job functions, and the skills they require
  • find jobs not publicly advertised and explore avenues to enter a specific field
  • gain inside information about a particular organization's culture and expectations

Why network?

40% of graduating Stanford students seeking jobs secure their first position through networking.